The Padres are sinking fast and today’s opponent has been given new life due to their losing streak.
Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres
Colorado picked up a 4-3 road victory versus the Padres on Friday night and moved to within 6 1/2 games of the division lead. The Rockies had dropped three in a row heading into this weekend series, but the club has had great success against San Diego this season. “What we talked about at the beginning of the season was winning the division,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “That’s what gets you into the playoffs the easiest way.” The team has been led offensively by outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who is riding an 11-game hitting streak and is hitting .500 with six home runs and 14 RBIs over that stretch. The team also remains confident heading into the final two games of the series due to a 33-29 all-time mark at Petco Park. Colorado is 29-24 against the division this season (+140) and the total is 20-32 O/U in those contests.
Rockies starting pitcher Jason Hammel is 9-7 with a 4.32 ERA in 24 starts this season and has won three straight outings. Over that span, he has allowed seven runs and 20 hits in 17.1 innings of work, while the team has outscored the opposition by a 18-11 margin. The right-hander is 2-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 11 road starts, issuing 20 walks and collecting 55 strikeouts in 66.2 frames. He will be making just his sixth daytime start of the year, posting an even 2-2 mark and 4.15 ERA in five outings, giving up just two home runs in 30.1 innings. In eight career games (seven starts) versus the Padres, Hammel brings a perfect 2-0 record and 4.84 ERA. He has picked up both of those victories in 2010, surrendering nine runs and 18 hits over 19.1 innings.
San Diego needs to pull the emergency break quickly if it plans on being atop the division come next week. The Padres have now dropped eight straight and now lead the Giants by just a game in the NL West race. “I really believe, as soon as we win one game, we’re going to get a winning streak going,” catcher Yorvit Torrealba said. “Every team goes through this.” The last time the club had a losing streak of more than seven games was June 21-29, 2008. So far this season, the team is 28-26 against divisional foes (+280), including a 5-8 mark versus today’s opponent. Despite the recent woes, San Diego has a good chance of bouncing back, as the team has recorded seven straight months of winning baseball. San Diego has compiled an excellent 27-16 mark in day games (+1,210) and the total is 20-17 O/U in those games.
Padres starting pitcher Jon Garland is 13-9 with a 3.29 ERA in 27 starts this season and has picked up victories in three of his last four outings. Over that time, he has given up five earned runs and 15 hits over 18.1 innings. The right-hander has a 7-3 record and 2.62 ERA in 14 home starts, issuing 45 walks and giving up 63 hits in 86 innings of work. In 10 daytime starts, he is 6-3 with a 3.12 ERA compared to a 7-6 record and 3.40 ERA in 17 nighttime appearances. The veteran toed the rubber six times in August, posting an impressive 4-2 mark and 2.39 ERA, after going 1-2 with a 5.02 ERA in five July outings. Garland will be making just his fourth lifetime starts versus the Rockies, coming in with an even 1-1 record and 3.66 ERA.
Bettors must respect the Rockies 7-0 record in Hammel’s last seven outings versus the division and the under is 12-2 in the team’s last 14 games overall against the NL West. San Diego has posted a 11-5 record as a home favorite of -125 to -150 in 2010 (+420) and the team is 39-34 on Saturdays the past three seasons (+820).
